DIVERS have spoken of their fears about plans to build a wind farm at Portland Harbour.

Energy giant Powergen Renewables - whose proposal will provide enough power for the whole of Weymouth and Portland - has told divers the project will not affect them but diving operators are doubtful about the claims.

The developer says wrecks could still be visited if any of the 100metre-tall turbines were fixed next to them.

It says blade tips would be at least 20 metres above sea level, allowing dive boats to pass underneath and there would be no draught from blade movement.

Graham Knott, owner of Wey Chieftan Diving in Weymouth, said: "I can't believe this is a serious proposal. It seems a bit of a joke.

"If we did think it was going to happen, we would fight it. I cannot see how these turbines would not affect diving because they would have to have an exclusion zone around them.

"The turbines are massive and intrusive."

Lissa Wallace, owner of Breakwater Diving Centre in Castletown on Portland, said she wants to be part of the consultation process but has not been contacted, despite Powergen's claims it has written to local divers about the farm.

She said: "If we are still able to dive on wrecks in the harbour then that's great. Otherwise you can say goodbye to the diving industry around here."

Powergen last year announced its plans to put 12 offshore turbines in the harbour breakwater.

If it gets the go-ahead, work is not expected to get under way until at least 2005.

The firm said electrical cables between turbines would probably be buried under the sediment and it hopes their foundations would become artificial reefs, encouraging marine life.

Powergen's project developer Anne-Marie Coyle said: "There's been a lot of speculation within the diving community with regards to the proposed Portland wind farm and we just want to set the record straight.

"Even though it's very early days we've begun a consultation process by writing to more than 120 organisations including local divers - with outline details of the scheme."